System and method for dynamic receive diversity allocation
First Claim
1. A communications device comprising:
- a first physical layer (PHY) unit, the first PHY unit configured to transmit or receive data based on a first wireless communications specification;
a second PHY unit, the second PHY unit configured to transmit or receive data based on a second wireless communications specification;
a first signal path coupled to a first antenna and to the first PHY unit, the first signal path configured to perform processing on a signal in the first signal path;
a second signal path coupled to a second antenna and to the second PHY unit, the second signal path configured to perform processing on a signal in the second signal path; and
a switchable signal path coupled to a third antenna and switchably coupled to the first PHY unit and to the second PHY unit, the switchable signal path configured to perform processing on a signal in the switchable signal path and to switchably couple the third antenna to either the first PHY unit or the second PHY, wherein the first PHY, the second PHY, the first signal path, the second signal path, and the switchable signal path are disposed in the communications device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for dynamic receive diversity allocation. A communications device comprises a first physical layer (PHY) unit, a second PHY unit, a first signal path coupled to a first antenna and to the first PHY unit, a switchable signal path coupled to a second antenna and switchably coupled to the first PHY unit and the second PHY unit, and a switch control unit coupled to the second antenna. The switch control unit dynamically generates a control signal used to switchably couple the second antenna to either the first PHY unit or the second PHY unit. The second antenna may be used to provided a needed transmit or receive antenna or an extra antenna for use in increasing diversity. Switching antennas reduces the total number of antennas and support hardware, such as digital processing hardware, for wireless communications standards having a high ratio of idle to busy time.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A communications device comprising:
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a first physical layer (PHY) unit, the first PHY unit configured to transmit or receive data based on a first wireless communications specification; a second PHY unit, the second PHY unit configured to transmit or receive data based on a second wireless communications specification; a first signal path coupled to a first antenna and to the first PHY unit, the first signal path configured to perform processing on a signal in the first signal path; a second signal path coupled to a second antenna and to the second PHY unit, the second signal path configured to perform processing on a signal in the second signal path; and a switchable signal path coupled to a third antenna and switchably coupled to the first PHY unit and to the second PHY unit, the switchable signal path configured to perform processing on a signal in the switchable signal path and to switchably couple the third antenna to either the first PHY unit or the second PHY, wherein the first PHY, the second PHY, the first signal path, the second signal path, and the switchable signal path are disposed in the communications device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An access point comprising:
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a first physical layer (PHY) unit configured to transmit or receive data over a first wireless communications network; a first antenna connected to the first PHY unit; a second PHY unit different from the first PHY unit and configured to transmit or receive data over a second wireless communications network; a second antenna connected to the second PHY unit; and a switchable antenna connected either to the first PHY or the second PHY, the switchable antenna configured to transmit or receive data according to the first wireless communications network or the second wireless communications network, wherein the access point is a single device configured to be operated in a network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An access point comprising:
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a plurality of different physical layer (PHY) units, each PHY unit configured to be in a listen mode, a receive mode, or a transmit mode; a plurality of antennas, each PHY unit connected to an antenna of the plurality of antennas; a switchable antenna, the switchable antenna switchably connected to the plurality of PHY units; and a processor unit configured to determine an operation mode of each PHY unit and configured to connect a selected PHY unit to the switchable antenna, wherein the selected PHY unit is selected in response to determining that, the selected PHY unit is in the receive mode and the selected PHY unit requires the switchable antenna, or the selected PHY unit is in the transmit mode and the selected PHY unit has been assigned the switchable antenna, or another PHY unit is in the transmit mode and the selected PHY unit has not been assigned the switchable antenna, or another PHY unit is in the receive mode and the other PHY unit does not require the switchable antenna, or the selected PHY unit is in the listen mode, wherein the access point is a single device configured to be operated in a network. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A communication network comprising:
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a first communication device; a second communication device; and an access point being a single device in the communication network, the access point comprising; a first physical layer (PHY) unit configured to transmit or receive data over a first wireless communication network; a first antenna connected to the first PHY unit; a second PHY unit configured to transmit or receive data over a second wireless communication network; a second antenna connected to the second PHY unit; and a switchable antenna connected either to the first PHY or the second PHY, the switchable antenna configured to transmit or receive data according to the first wireless communication network or the second wireless communication network. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification